Andrea is the founder of Shining Kids Yoga, which began as an after-school program at her son's elementary school in 2014. She has been teaching yoga to all ages since 2005. Andrea completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training & prenatal yoga training at Tranquil Space Yoga in Washington, D.C. In addition, she received specialized training in children’s yoga from the Radiant Child Yoga program, training in postnatal yoga from Baby OM, and training in therapeutic yoga from The Samarya Center.

Andrea is also a Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW) through the State of Maryland, having received her MSW degree from University of Maryland, Baltimore.

She has taught yoga for children at yoga studios throughout the DC area, including Tranquil Space, Budding Yogis, Rock Creek Yoga and Warrior One Yoga. She also teaches classes for adults at Yoga Bliss Studios and Extend Yoga, where she is on the yoga teacher training faculty.

When not teaching or practicing yoga, Andrea enjoys playing board games with her son, Quinn, singing karaoke, and trying out new vegetarian recipes!

Teaching 10+ years and loving every minute of it. I am passionate about more than the postures respecting their value and proper place. I live my yoga, to the best of my ability, on and off the mat. My teacher has taught me the principals of alignment and their importance in daily life. We are not only aligning our bodies but also our hearts.

My style is heart, breath and alignment which I remind myself and my students consistently. My favorite part of teaching is the central focus of the breath, and showing students how the breath transforms them dynamically. I welcome all types of students. I love teaching children yoga because they are so receptive to new ideas and to learning meditation and yoga in a fun and playful way while still reaping all the benefits that they can use in their daily lives.

My previous life as a government attorney has helped me in understanding and communicating the logic of the yoga philosophy and the yoga practice. It is my hope to help others access their peace and joy through yoga and to help them realize their full potential to live in the present moment and be happy and healthy.

Farah Bekdash

Farah Bekdash began practicing yoga in her early teens after discovering it on daytime tv during a school break. Farah continued to practice yoga throughout university, her Master's degree in Biology and while teaching preschool. Her love for yoga spread to her family, motivating her to train as a kid's Budding Yogis yoga and mindfulness teacher at Circle Yoga in Washington DC. A mom to three, certified labor doula and childbirth educator and amateur anything crafty, Farah tries to incorporate mindfulness and good intentions in all aspects of her life. Her classes combine storytelling, music, imagination and movement allowing even the youngest of yogis to blossom and grow.

Lauren Dome

Lauren has been experiencing the benefits of yoga in her own life for the past 10 years. She pursued her 200hr yoga teacher training at Thrive yoga studio, so she could share her love of yoga with others. Lauren is a pediatric nurse practitioner and a pediatric mental health specialist. She received her Master’s in Nursing and NP degree from Johns Hopkins University. In addition to teaching yoga, Lauren maintains a practice at Children’s National Medical center in the department of Neurology.

Lauren has taught kids yoga at Brainy Camps, a camp for children with special needs. She incorporates yoga into her professional practice, using it as a tool to manage symptoms of Tourette syndrome, ADHD and anxiety. She also teaches adult yoga classes at Warrior One studio in Gaithersburg.

“Yoga teaches children how to notice feelings in their bodies and explore new ways of responding.” “Your children will learn skills that they can use on and off the mat.” Lauren is so excited to share her love of yoga with your children. Namaste

Lika Elwood

Lika’s dream came true when she completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training in Washington DC, becoming a full-time yoga teacher. Initially Lika ( E-RYT 200) was drawn to yoga as a way to maintain her flexibility and strength but was intimidated by yoga's spiritual and scholastic side which she did not find in previous experiences with ballet and modern dance. After a short time however she discovered the power of yoga as a path to a more balanced, compassionate, meaningful and happy life.

Lika's training is diverse and continuing. She has taken countless workshops and trainings in different styles of yoga including Vinyasa Flow, Prana Flow, Ashtanga, Rocket Yoga, Jivamukti, Kids yoga, Aerial yoga, Yoga Nidra, Meditation and Restorative yoga. She has studied under the guidance of well known instructors such as David Williams, David Swenson, Shiva Rea, David Kyle, Tara Brach, Elena Brower and others. Lika continues to evolve as she sees herself in the position of a student and a practitioner first and only then a teacher.

Carla Kasun

Carla has over thirty years of experience in special education, behavioral intervention, residential counseling and therapeutic recreation with children and adults. As a certified yoga instructor, she has been instrumental in developing the yoga program at The Maddux School, as well as providing direct yoga instruction to young children.

Sydnea Lewis

Sydnea Lewis is an international graphic designer, yoga teacher and entrepreneur from New Orleans, Louisiana. With a professional background in fine arts, Sydnea has been able to use her innate creative abilities to hone in on the movement and stillness of the mind, body, and spirit. Yoga has been a part of her life for over 7 years, and her practice has helped her grow stronger, more flexible and fearless, both on and off the mat. “Yoga inspires me to be more mindful while focusing on the present moment without judgment.”

Sydnea’s journey through and to yoga has led her to not only attain a Budding Yogis Certification to teach yoga to kids aged 2-12 years but also to complete the 200hr Certification to teach all ages and backgrounds in various styles - including Baptiste’s Power and Dharma. With the certifications Sydnea has attained so far she has been able to move, touch and inspire not only the lives of children in public schools across Washington, D.C but adults as well. She has taught classes in corporate offices, apartment complexes, community gardens and also at various fitness inspired community events in the DMV area such as Urban Boxing and Herbalife Nutrition. Her goal is to help break the assumed stereotype that yoga is only for a “certain type of person, at a certain age, with a certain background”.

Bei Ma

Bei discovered Yoga when she was pregnant with her now 12-year-old son, Philip. She immediately fell in love with Yoga and has practiced yoga ever since. Bei graduated from the Willow Street Yoga Center Teacher Training Program in Takoma Park/Silver Spring, Maryland.

Bei grew up with educators and doctors like her parents, uncles and grandparents. Her passion for education, arts and sciences has only grown stronger with Yoga and meditation practices and teaching. Bei is a firm believer that everyone especially children deserve LOVE, JOY and PEACE. As an artist and photographer in her free time, Bei brings her artistic creativity to her classes combining imagination, storytelling, compassion and playfulness. She is super thrilled to have this incredible opportunity sharing her love of Yoga with young yogis.

In addition to being a RYT 200 and a Certified Yoga Instructor, Bei holds Master’s degree in Analytical Chemistry and Chemometrics. She is a scientific and business executive in global health, life sciences and medicinal field.

Holly Meyers

Since 2008, Holly Meyers has guided yoga and meditation offerings for studio yogis, at-risk communities and pro-athletes. She is trained in Classical Hatha and Trauma-Sensitive Yoga, and teaches mindful Vinyasa flow classes that strengthen both body and spirit. In her Yoga Teacher Training philosophy modules, she instructs the Yoga Sutras as an ancient guide for contemporary living. As a yoga business consultant, Holly advises on client retention, membership growth, community relations and daily operations.

Amy Morrison

Amy began yoga RYT-200 teacher training in 2010 with YogaFit International. She has also completed training programs focused specifically on children's yoga with YoKid and Move with Me Yoga Adventures.

Amy developed a passion for yoga after her twins were born in 2008. Yoga provided stress relief from the demands of balancing a full-time job as a graphic designer and two infants.

Since becoming a yoga teacher, Amy has taught classes to participants of all ages. She currently teaches kids classes, adult vinyasa flow classes and gentle classes for cancer and Parkinson's patients.

In her free time, Amy likes to run, hike and spend time with her family.

Jessica Robinson

Jessica Robinson has a deep love of yoga and playfulness, and has been working with Shining Kids yoga since April 2018.

Jessica has been practicing yoga for 20 years. She completed her Budding Yogis Children’s Yoga Teacher Training in June 2017. In addition, she attended Sonia Sumar’s Yoga For the Special Child workshop to use with classroom movement breaks while working in Hong Kong as a special education teacher. In August 2018, she completed a specialized training in teaching yoga to children with special needs.

Jessica was a special education teacher in preschool and elementary schools for 15 years in the US and internationally. She often brought her own experience of yoga and mindfulness into her school teaching. After her daughter was born in 2016, she left the school system to become an independent special education consultant. She does both yoga and special needs with love in her heart to help others grow into themselves. She believes strongly in adjusting or developing a learning program according to every child’s needs whether it’s yoga or in school, to give every child what they need in order to pursue their interests and potential.